Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-24
MAINE LEGISLATURES.
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. IS.

~.
Papers from the House disposed Of in con-
currence.
SIll an act to requisite railroad commerce in
tins State came from the House referred to the
Committee on Railroads. Telegrsphs and
Expresses. and Was laid on the table and or
drr-d to be printed on motion of Mr.. Gilbert
of Oxford.
Bill an Act 10 repeal the charter of the
town of Mayftld came from the House
pissed 10 be engrossed. and on motion of Mr..
Cole of Cumberland the rule was suspended
and the bill passed to be engro.sed in con.
currtnce
Mr.. Weymouth of York presented the
petition of o. G. Phillips and e5 Others Of
Asbarn for passage of House document NJ.
ooreii iting to the assessment of taxes which
was referred to the Committee on the Judi
eisry.
Mr. Heath of Kennebec presented the re
monstrance of Geo. + Macomber and IS
Others OF Augu.t. agunss any change in the
peddier law, which WAS referred to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary.
On motion of Mr. Sleeper Of Audroseoggin,
Ordered, That the Committee on Flsherles
and Game inquire into the expediency Of so
amending sec 46. chip. 40 Of the revised
statutes AS to make the provisions of said
section more easily understood and further
| PRIV ielin iol its cnIfc 4mSnt
Mr.. Lumhert, from the Committee on the
judiciary. reported ought not 70 pass on bill
an act to establish municipal court in The
town Of Skowhsg,n; also leave to withiraS
on petition of JAMES o. Bradbury for estab
iishment of muhicipii c1urt st Il ,rtlsnd
| Printed bill an ACT To amend an act entitled
an act TO e.t4blish the State Board o Health
approved Feb 9th, 1885, was read one and
lai on the table on motion of Mr.. Guslec
OF Knox.
Bill an act t. create lien on colts, on its
| passage s. b. engrossed, WAS LAID on the tablt
on motion Jf Mr.. Heath of Klnnebec SUP
seqrentiy, on motion OF Mr Lumbert. il was
taken up, amended, and passed to be en-
crossed.
! Ga motion Of Mr.. Heath the Senate recon
siiere its vote recommiting to the Commit
tee on L4gal Affairs the bill 10 amend sec 80
chap. G3 If the revised statute, rel ,tlny to tn
compensa IN Of witnesses fore Prob ate
| Courts The bill WAS then passed to be en-
| crossed.
| The maj jpritv and minority reports of the
Committee on the Judiciary upon the bill to
increase the salaries of the Justices of the
supreme Court came up by special assign.
ment
Mr. Gushee of Knox moved to substiruta
| the minority report, which was adverse to an
increase, for the m prity. which brings in \
bill to increase from 80 900 to So 800. Ga
motion OF the same gentlemi An a yea and nav
vote WAS ordered
Mr.. Lumbert of Aroo'took opposed the
motion and advocated the mi )rity report.
He was in sympathy with the idea of keeping
appropriations down to the lowest possible
figure, but tn ugIt thst in the haste for re
trenchment the legislature should be careful
| and NOT the MACE Tnp m. .tta r
under consideration origin ited in movement
To increase the salaries Of the judges enough
to C Iver their actual expenses when aw "
from home at curt. This annual expense nt
travel and board 10 each judge averaged $500.
to be paid out of salary of only SO 600 and
no p1rquistes. leaving b,Iance of bat
81 400 The dignity of their position forba le
their being too &c ln0mical in the utter of
their expenses. They must paw literally and
I've in style befiuing their position. Any
thrd rate county attprney could earn from
~ 900 to 50, 500 yearly, and vet we only pN
net salary OF about 81 400 TO men for posi-
tions which require the best leg,l talent
None of the best attorneys can afford to take
these positions with the present salaries.
Snme had said the ju lges 80 not ak tor thi.
increase. He admit they were not here
lobhying, for this would he beneath their
dignity. but they are aware Of what is going
on and it is with their appr rIval. Tney
believe their salaries are not sufficient under
the cirrum tantes, and are in hbp.s tlev will
receive this small advance. Some might say
we have very able bench, and have had NJ
trouble IN obtaining it at the present coma
| sati0n. He submitted that this was no argu-
ment against an increase, because if thy
were not being paid enough, then it was the
dlty of the legi liture to vote an increase
| lie called attention to the fact
that there is no provision in this STATE
for retiring judges upon salaries
when they have grown old in the service OF
the State. and also to the fact that a LAWYER
loses his law practice when he goes upon the
bench, and ottentimes when he goes from it
fails to secure a lucr ,tive business. Oar best
legal talent cannot n q ,rd to accept judgeship
aud some Of them leave it, as in the case Of
Judge SymOnds who is now earning S3, 900
| a wear instead of 50 900 As the salary now
ia, poor men cannot aft ,rd to take the posi-
tions, no matter how well fitted they may be,
but only those whose wealth will enable
,hem to live without salary. 1t was a bar
to the man Of moderate means who mghs
otherwise aspire to the place. He declared
himself in favor of al measures fir retrench-
ment, but thought this was one which stood
in a different light from many others.
Mr. Llbbey OF Penobscot congratulated the
Senator from Aroostook Nr. Lumber upon
his new departure and tnat he was nov up)n
a plane IF '.gener Isity" az he called it, AMI
of iair Appropriation Mr.. Liboey also ex-
pressed surprise that third rate country
lawyers earn s2400 year. If 1t wa. go he
was glad of il. Economy in propriations
was desirable, but it was not economy in sp
propriations, in his judgment to pay man
for his services less Than he is worth, and he
was very glad the last speaker had recognized
that fact. He also congratulated him thar
he had at last got upon the right ground, and
he hoped that he would continue to <ht il
out on this line during the rest of the session.
Mr. Heath of Kennebec desired to refer TO
one matter ALWAYS brought up against an in
crease Of the salary of any State officer, the
stock argument that the man knew what the
duties and salary were when he accepted the
office, and having accepted it, let him con-
tnue to work on for the same salary. But
that did not apply in this case. The labors
Of the Supreme Court have been greatly IN
creased during the past six years. They have
been increased by the increase of bust
ness AMI by legislation, and they nave
received M relief BY Legislation,
except in the establishment of a small court
10 Aroostook county with limited jurisdiction.
Down to 1881 the equity jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court was very limited and the
equity business transacted very small; bat al
that time all powers in equity were conferred
upon it, so that it has jurisdiction Of every
conceivable case. The business from cor.
bas alsn layosiv incraasad within a